Q. I have suffered from frequent bellyaches, gas and fatigue for years. I chalked these symptoms up to stress, but when my poop started to float I wondered if I needed a gluten-free diet. Getting off gluten helped, but not entirely.
When I went to my doctor she tested me for everything under the sun. She found I was infected with a germ called H. pylori. After taking pricey antibiotics plus probiotics, my stools no longer float. The smelly gas is gone and I feel so much better.
A. H. pylori infection doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can result in abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or vomiting and burping. This bacterial infection can also cause stomach ulcers.
Antibiotic treatment can sometimes upset the microbial ecology of the intestines and may cause symptoms on its own. That’s why the probiotics were a smart addition to your regimen. A review in the Journal of Nutrition (March, 2007) showed that probiotic treatment may help suppress H. pylori infections. It might also have an effect on whether or not the stool floats.
For more information about overcoming gas, celiac disease and H. pylori, we offer our Guide to Digestive Disorders. You may also want to read more about other people’s experience. Compounds from broccoli sprouts can overcome H. pylori, and some readers have found that eating broccoli can help heartburn symptoms.
